Post by pistonschick on Apr 10, 2010 1:19:35 GMT -8
The primary cold hard fact here is that "John D. Totten" was single-handedly responsible for causing a fatality in the Yacolt Burn. We can only be thankful that his vehicle did not land on a large group of people below and kill or maim many others.
In addition, he was driving a 4x4 at the time of the fatality and that fact alone (whether it's fair or not) will bring the 4x4 community into a spotlight that it does not want and does not need while trying to open up 4x4 access to the Yacolt Burn. It is unlikely that we would have even learned of the make or model of the vehicle had he not been driving a 4x4. That is the media's subtle way of making a point for those who are sharp enough or interested enough to catch it - a "poke" if you will...
On a more positive note, the Department of Natural Resources made a very commendable effort to counter (or at least balance) these "anti 4x4" media reports by submitting two immediate press releases placing motorized users in a positive light: one about the multi-group work party effort today in the Jones Creek area and one about the past and future efforts to clean up the Yacolt Burn showing a picture of Fivendime and Wyldman winching abandoned vehicles out of the forest that were loaded on a truck and trailer driven by Racincowboy.
It is a fact that John D. Totten was in an area closed to 4x4's and was not wearing his seatbelt while 4-wheeling in an area closed to 4x4's, which indicates at the very least, a certain level of obvious irresponsibility. And of course, since he died as a result of his progression of errors in judgement, the issue of alcohol will only be completely disclosed if and when there is a trial (there is more to my thought here but I am filtering).
If "John D. Totten" (instead of getting pitched from his 4x4) had been holding a loaded gun in his hand when he fell off of that ledge and had accidently shot himself or someone else to death, your gun rights would suddenly be in an unpleasant spotlight.
Which begs the question: Would you then be giving the users of this board crap about whether it was a Glock or a Beretta?
Everything we do here is an effort to open new and/or maintain exististing off-road opportunities. The reactions and emotions that sometimes arise on this board and in the club are a direct result from the time these guys and gals regularly spend working to open trails for everyone to enjoy.
Don' t you think all of us would rather be out wheelin' and having fun with our friends and family? Do you think we sit around and think - wow, I can harly wait to go on forest watch patrol Friday night or pick up garbage and repair trails all day Saturday? Hell No - we'd rather go wheeling - just like everyone else. But where would the sport of 4-wheeling be, if nobody did the hard stuff? And with the hard stuff comes the never-ending slew of crap that gets thrown at us on a daily basis from every possible direction...
At a certain point, we all have our limits as to how much we can give before we're tapped out. In my experience, most volunteers tend to have a structured timeline (or in some cases, an expiration date):
People volunteer...
... for a reason (hey, my buddy joined so I'm going to help too) - these guys usually don't last very long but contribute heavily while engaged - this is generally the largest quantity of volunteer effort
... for a season (hey, that project is really important to me, I'll help) these guys last alot longer but usually fade away after their individual needs or interests have been served - this is generally the best quality of volunteer effort
... and for a lifetime (these are the rarest souls of them all) they are always volunteering, for their entire lives for one cause or another. Sometimes because it's something they care about, or sometimes because it's important to someone they care about and sometimes they take it on just because nobody else seems to give a damn at all.
When things get tough or they feel attacked or overwhelmed, they hang in there and see things through to completion - they don't "step away" or "take a break". They don't walk away from the cause because they're not in it for themselves - they're in it for the result - and TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Because these "lifetime" volunteers never really ever take a break they are generally more susceptible to making mistakes, burn-out, cynicism, profiling, stereotyping or "rounding-up" behavior...
So I guess what I'm asking, if you can find the room in your heart - give em a break, they are tired, overworked and never, ever paid for their unending dedication. And be ever thankful that they really care this much about something that is actually important to you too...
And, you had better hope and pray that these dedicated volunteers NEVER take a stand against something you believe in - because I can assure you - they will never back down.
"If you don't stand for something - you'll fall for anything!"
Oh - you forgot one:
"Class" cannot be defined - you either have it or you do not.
And here are the range of emotions I experienced while writing this post (not necessarily in order):
;D
In addition, he was driving a 4x4 at the time of the fatality and that fact alone (whether it's fair or not) will bring the 4x4 community into a spotlight that it does not want and does not need while trying to open up 4x4 access to the Yacolt Burn. It is unlikely that we would have even learned of the make or model of the vehicle had he not been driving a 4x4. That is the media's subtle way of making a point for those who are sharp enough or interested enough to catch it - a "poke" if you will...
On a more positive note, the Department of Natural Resources made a very commendable effort to counter (or at least balance) these "anti 4x4" media reports by submitting two immediate press releases placing motorized users in a positive light: one about the multi-group work party effort today in the Jones Creek area and one about the past and future efforts to clean up the Yacolt Burn showing a picture of Fivendime and Wyldman winching abandoned vehicles out of the forest that were loaded on a truck and trailer driven by Racincowboy.
It is a fact that John D. Totten was in an area closed to 4x4's and was not wearing his seatbelt while 4-wheeling in an area closed to 4x4's, which indicates at the very least, a certain level of obvious irresponsibility. And of course, since he died as a result of his progression of errors in judgement, the issue of alcohol will only be completely disclosed if and when there is a trial (there is more to my thought here but I am filtering).
If "John D. Totten" (instead of getting pitched from his 4x4) had been holding a loaded gun in his hand when he fell off of that ledge and had accidently shot himself or someone else to death, your gun rights would suddenly be in an unpleasant spotlight.
Which begs the question: Would you then be giving the users of this board crap about whether it was a Glock or a Beretta?
Everything we do here is an effort to open new and/or maintain exististing off-road opportunities. The reactions and emotions that sometimes arise on this board and in the club are a direct result from the time these guys and gals regularly spend working to open trails for everyone to enjoy.
Don' t you think all of us would rather be out wheelin' and having fun with our friends and family? Do you think we sit around and think - wow, I can harly wait to go on forest watch patrol Friday night or pick up garbage and repair trails all day Saturday? Hell No - we'd rather go wheeling - just like everyone else. But where would the sport of 4-wheeling be, if nobody did the hard stuff? And with the hard stuff comes the never-ending slew of crap that gets thrown at us on a daily basis from every possible direction...
At a certain point, we all have our limits as to how much we can give before we're tapped out. In my experience, most volunteers tend to have a structured timeline (or in some cases, an expiration date):
People volunteer...
... for a reason (hey, my buddy joined so I'm going to help too) - these guys usually don't last very long but contribute heavily while engaged - this is generally the largest quantity of volunteer effort
... for a season (hey, that project is really important to me, I'll help) these guys last alot longer but usually fade away after their individual needs or interests have been served - this is generally the best quality of volunteer effort
... and for a lifetime (these are the rarest souls of them all) they are always volunteering, for their entire lives for one cause or another. Sometimes because it's something they care about, or sometimes because it's important to someone they care about and sometimes they take it on just because nobody else seems to give a damn at all.
When things get tough or they feel attacked or overwhelmed, they hang in there and see things through to completion - they don't "step away" or "take a break". They don't walk away from the cause because they're not in it for themselves - they're in it for the result - and TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Because these "lifetime" volunteers never really ever take a break they are generally more susceptible to making mistakes, burn-out, cynicism, profiling, stereotyping or "rounding-up" behavior...
So I guess what I'm asking, if you can find the room in your heart - give em a break, they are tired, overworked and never, ever paid for their unending dedication. And be ever thankful that they really care this much about something that is actually important to you too...
And, you had better hope and pray that these dedicated volunteers NEVER take a stand against something you believe in - because I can assure you - they will never back down.
"If you don't stand for something - you'll fall for anything!"
Oh - you forgot one:
"Class" cannot be defined - you either have it or you do not.
And here are the range of emotions I experienced while writing this post (not necessarily in order):
;D